"Good decision." Nick said as cracked his knuckles. "If you're a man you don't run away from danger, you kick the shit out of it." Nick said with a confident tone, even though he thought that they might also get the shit beat out of them.

He adjusted his cap making sure it still covered his horns and that it wouldn't fall off. Making this demon think he was human would play well for Nick and Joshua. "Draco Potentiam!" Nick said his magic keywords unlocking his magic potential. In that moment a wind blew the fire away but Nick did not pay attention to it as he starred down the path into the darkness, knowing that the final boss was here.

"Interesting... Nick seems to have dragon magic..." Joshua thought after hearing the magical words spoken.

As the wind blew Joshua sensed the demon very close to them. The darkness was so heavy and yet everything was so clear to Joshua. He had no time to question why this was happening so instead he focused on the task at hand.

The demon was about 3 meters tall on all four legs. It's body was barely visible in this light as it's fur was black. It looked like a very large black jaguar with purple eyes. It's tail also had metallic spikes along the entire tail and the claws on it's paws could easily cut a man in half.

"Here it comes." Joshua said as the glowing purple eyes could be seen barreling towards them at a very fast speed. Joshua's summon transformed it's arm into a sword and prepared to attack.

It was time for Nick to step into the frontlines once he saw the demon. He quickly ran past Joshua and stopped to the left of the shadow summon as the beast ran towards them. It was difficult to see it, but the eyes and the sound it made gave him away. He wasted no time as he opened his mouth and used his breath of fire. As the creature noticed the fire heading in it's direction it leaped to the right and quickly leaped again aiming to take down the shadow first. "To the right!!" Nick was trying to alert Joshua(and the shadow).

Joshua stayed back while the initial attack happened. When the creature jumped out of the way and pounced again the shadow rolled backwards and attempted to slash at the creature as it passed where the shadow used to be. The demon was much faster than Joshua had originally anticipated it would be, though it seemed to hold back a tiny bit. The shadow had calculated the distance right and attacking the demon as it passed did some damage. It was cut along it's right hind leg and a low pitch scream could be heard when it stopped to turn around.

"Good, it's easily cut. This could work to our advantage." Joshua thought hearing the scream.

OOC:

Nick heard the scream and was now more confident about the fight knowing this thing could be hurt, he hoped to end this without revealing his secret. He noticed the demon turn around after the scream so Nick used the opportunity again. With the back turned to him Nick quickly ran to a tree next to the demon climbing it quickly and jumping into the air above the demon. "This my terrain!!" Nick said 5 meters above the ground as he used his dragon breath again trying to engulf the demon completely in flames.

OOC:

The demon had enough time to hear Nick's attack and before the fire could even get close to it the demon vanished from sight.

"Where did it go?" Joshua thought, his senses spiked when it reappeared behind Joshua. "Let's see how strong you really are." He thought as his shadow swarm moved to defend against the simple swipe of the demon.

The swipe went within range of the swarm and within moments the swarm reformed into a solid shield, easily blocking against the swipe. In the time it took the demon to withdraw it's paw Joshua's shadow was almost within range to attack it again. Lunging at the last second, the shadow narrowly missed when the demon teleported again.

"It's teleportation takes time, if we can figure out where it will go it might give us the advantage we need." Joshua said so everyone could hear. Just then the demon appeared close to Nick, about to tail whip him. The speed of the tail was unlike anything they have seen so far. Nick would only have a split second to dodge.

Nick wasn't too surprised when the demon dodged his attack, this was just reminding him that it wasn't going to be easy. He saw the demon fight on Joshua's side and all of a sudden it disappeared again.

He felt the surrounding around him changed as Nick quickly threw himself face first into the ground to avoid the demons tail, but he was a quarter of a second to slow as he felt the spikes scratch his back. "Tch..." He quickly turned to his back and rolled back into his feet creating some distance between him and the demon as it swung it's tail down trying to hit Nick, but Nick was able to completely avoid it this time.

"incrementum gravitatis quinque!" Nick chanted increasing the gravity around the demon by 5 times. It shouldn't do much to the demon, but it might catch him by surprise leaving him open for a quick attack. Nick quickly used his breath of fire again but this time aiming only at the demons right leg which already had a cut from Joshuas shadow.

OOC:

OOC:

The demon was slowed down and didn't have enough time to fully dodge the fire. The fire burned into the cut, causing some major damage to the demon. Something in the air changed after the demon was burned. The atmosphere had gotten much heavier in the immediate area.

"This can't be good..." Joshua thought.

The demon disappeared and didn't reappear right away. This wasn't good, and Joshua knew it.

"Get over here!" He said shouting to Nick.

"Time to focus on defense." Joshua thought as the shadow combined with the swarm to increase the defensive power of the swarm.

Nick could feel the air becoming heavier as if something evil was breathing cold breath behind his. Nick knew the demon could not be beaten by such an attack, so it had to be getting ready for something. Knowing that Nick heard Joshua's warning and ran back to him knowing defense was the key at this moment, and Nick only defense was his offense so he had to rely on Joshua now.

Nick stood next to Joshua with his fist infront of him, paying attention to all his surroundings, but he could not see anything. Nick did not bother talking to Joshua as he saw the swarm of shadows get stronger but still he kept vigilant just in case the swarm didn't hold. He knew this demon haa to have powers that he is still not showing.

As Nick entered the range of the swarm they moved around him. It was a couple seconds after that Nick had entered the safety of Joshua's swarm that the demon reappeared. It's body was covered in red metallic-like armor. The area also started to change, it was as if the corruption of the demon had gotten stronger. Everything around them was consumed completely in shadows. The only visible thing was the demon's armor and eyes.

"This just got a lot more interesting..." Joshua thought, his senses now returned to normal.

He would have to rely on sight more than before. This armor seemed to stand out to him and he had a feeling that this was the reason he was here.

"Let's see what you can do... demon." Joshua said, calling on the creature to attack him.

As if it accepted his challenge it charged the two, pouncing for the kill. The swarm pushed Joshua and Nick out of the way as if the ground beneath them had moved. The demon landed just out of reach of a recoil attack and jumped away, ready to strike again.

"I have a feeling this isn't going to be as easy as we thought it would be. The damage we did before is completely gone. Don't leave my defenses until I say so, or you'll die." Joshua said to Nick, the swarm ready to defend against the next attack.

The material that had consumed the ground was capable of spreading quite easily and quickly, and when consumed whole any living thing would be either dead or under the demons control.

OOC:

As the demon reappeared with it's new red armor all Nick did was whistle in amazement. "Is it just me or does that thing look a lot more badass." Nick said with a grin on his face, he was definitely enjoying the danger.

Nick was caught by surprise when the swarm suddenly pushed him away from the demon that he almost lost his footing but was able to stay up. Nick heard Joshua's warning and knew he was right, if he stepped on the ground and attacked like he used to then he would get consumed by the shadows and die. "Whatever you say Joshua." If Nick had brought his broom then he could've probably taken the fight to the sky and stand a better chance, but no use in thinking of what could've happened.

For now Nick needed defense and time, until Joshua could think of a plan. "incrementum gravitatis quinque!" Surprising the enemy again might just buy them time as Nick increased the gravity around the demon by 5 times again.

OOC:

The demon slowed down a little bit with the next attack when the gravity hit it but not much, it knew better than to just charge at them blindly. It swung it's tail at them and launched sword sized spikes in an attempt to break the swarm. This just about got past the swarm but the 3 spikes that were launched were stopped about a meter away from Joshua.

"That was close. Something tells me we'll have to take the offensive to win this. Give me a minute to figure out a way to get rid of this toxic covering the ground." Joshua said as his swarm continued to defend against the attacks. The demon was not happy with them and just continued to launch spikes at Joshua and Nick hoping that one might get through. The occasional time the swarm would move Joshua and Nick out of the way as they had before.

"I got it... I don't know how long this will last but it's a temporary solution." Joshua said. "You'll understand soon, we won't have much time after this so go all out when I say so." Joshua now started to focus on what was about to happen. He had not tried this before but it would have to work.

"Crap, I hate it when people come up with a plan and don't say anything." Nick said to himself as he tried to move with the swarm and keep avoiding the spikes flying at them. Joshua seemed to be concentrating hard so Nick wans't going to disturb him, for now he would try and support the swarm by increasing the gravity infront of causing some of the spikes to lose speed and force.

The demon would occasionally let out loud roars and growl at Nick and Joshua as it leered at them. "Joshua you better act quickly, that thing looks more pissed than ever. If you gonna do something do it know" Nick warned Joshua as he felt a shivering chill down his spine.

After about a minute of concentration, the demons stopped to roar at them. This was what Joshua was waiting for, the swarm scattered along the ground and the surrounding area within a couple seconds and destroyed enough of the element to leave open patches on the ground. It wasn't perfect but would have to do for now.

"Ka Tora No Vaki Nash Kota, Ka Tora No Vaki Noraka Kota" Joshua said summoning two shadow mages and two shadow swordsmen. "Focus all power onto that demon!" Joshua shouted to them, as well as Nick. The demon was startled by this sudden change of position towards it.

Within a second the shadow mages shot shadow balls at the creature and the swordsmen shundo'd close enough to attack. The shadow balls hit the demon's legs, knocking it down and the swordsmen stabbed where the armor was not there. Everything would happen rapidly enough that the demon would not have time to recoil but Joshua hoped Nick would be able to attack. Having 4 summons out was really hard on Joshua, it left him defenseless and he would have to rest after but this was the only way he could think of taking this demon down with as little risk as possible.

"I'm going all out!!" Nick said as he left the swarm protection and started jumping from patch to patch while the demon was preoccupied with the shadows of Joshua. He knew that to take it out he had to transform and go all out. Nick was running out of patches so he was going to have to fly soon, and while jumping through patches the changes started to appear as first his hands and legs became claws, he then grew a tail and at last he jumped on the last patched and grew his wings and transformed completely into his dragon form.

"RAWRRR" Nick screamed as he flew toward the demon and used his breath of fire which in dragon form was stronger than in his human form. He tried to engulf and block the vision of the demon with fire as he kept flying toward it. Nick aimed to knock it down, stand on top it so he wouldn't step on the element and then use his breath of fire at zero distant. This was a really dangerous strategy for him.

The shadows were holding the demon down as Nick knocked it down and held it down. The demon was unable to move but struggled as much as it could. While it was being held down it was unable to teleport. The shadows continued to attack it but as it was laying on the ground the element that was on the ground seemed to begin consuming the demon.

"Nick, get away from there!" Joshua shouted trying to warn Nick of the new danger. The shadows continued to attack it as they cared little of the element, if worse came to worst Joshua would release them.

Nick thought this might happen but hoped that it wouldn't as he tried to fly away from the demon when he began to get sucked in. He thought there wouldn't be a problem but the demon suddenly bit Nick by the tail and held unto him, not allowing him to fly way as the demon kept getting sucked in. This were really bad news, if Nick didn't get free he would also get sucked in to the element.

"Bastard let go!!" Nick said as he used his breath fire while pulling away to get free and it seemed to work. The demon let go of Nicks tail, but since they were both pulling at opposite directions, Nick was sent flying spiraling out of control towards Joshua. The bigger problem was that there was no patch on the ground big enough so Nick could land in it in his dragon form.

While spiraling out of control white smoke began to surround Nick as he began his transformation back into human just in time. Nick luckily crashed landed next to Joshua in the protection of the swarm. "Ahh my tailbone" Nick said in bit of pain as he rubbed where his tailbone was. "That bastard nearly ripped it off." Nick said as he got up and used his clothe spell to cover himself up, as he looked back to where the demon was.

Joshua watched as his shadows and Nick in dragon form retreated from where the demon was rapidly being consumed by this element. Nick landed beside Joshua safely and Joshua's shadows returned to his side. He released them so his strength wasn't continually drained.

"I guess all there is to do is wait..." Joshua thought as he watched the demon dieing in front of them.

The demon was fully consumed and there wasn't much else to do. The element had actually left the surrounding area to consume this demon, that either meant that the element wasn't from the demon or that it turned against the now dead demon. Light began to shine back into the darker part of the forest, making it much easier to see. Lyon walked towards the demon as it slowly disappeared, as if it were never there.

"What was the point of coming here..." Joshua thought watching it more closely.

Nick had a 'what the hell is going on' look on his face. He thought the demon would still pop up again and that the element was just taking it to heal him or something, but it seemed to actually kill it. That what Nick though as he saw the surrounding area light up and clean wind start blowing. The sensation of the eyes watching them was also gone.

Nick did not know what to make this, was it really over? Cause it sure didn't feel like it. "Hey Joshua, you said you were not sure why you were here in this forest. Well do you still not know why?Do you still have that strange feeling?" Nick asked. For now all Nick could hope for was that Joshua had answers, cause he sure as hell didn't.

"I do not believe so..." Joshua said now starting to think about everything that happened. He walked right were the demon died and vanished and it was as if nothing had been there. The forest looked like it was just an ordinary day.

"Something tells me it's over... for now..." He got the feeling that nothing was coming back any time soon, at least as a threat.

The demon was gone, weather dead or whatever it was gone. The forest was returning to it's normal state and it all seemed too easy. The fight went over as if it was nothing like Joshua had felt. Perhaps they caught it off guard and it could not reach the point it wanted to, whatever that was.

"The question is what do I get out of this other than the experience?" Joshua thought as he continued to look around.

Everything seemed to be as normal as a forest could be, animals started to return to the daily activities, a breeze blew through the trees. It seemed normal and yet, what was it for?

"I... guess it's over..." Joshua said calm but confused. He gave up on searching for anything of interest.

"Over huh.... Argh I hate this feeling. It's over but it doesn't feel like I won, it just feels like something took that demon away!!" Nick said with anger in his tone. He hated to lose but he hated it even more if something got in the way of his fight.

But for now he couldn't really do anything. The forest seemed to be back to normal and Lyon didn't seem to feel anything, so of course Nick wasn't going to feel anything. For now all that was left was leave this forest, Nick was gonna have trouble relaxing here so he minus well relax in a small town. He transformed back into his dragon form figuring it would be the easiest way to leave.

"If you want I can give you a ride to the nearest town Joshua." Nick said via telepathy, offering assistance. Even though it was this guys fault that Nick was unable to relax today he still saved him a few times against the demon.

Joshua stood in the forest as Nick transformed into dragon form again.

"No thanks, I'll be fine here." Joshua said to Nick's offer.

He didn't have any sense of why he was there but he would stay in the forest that night and then be off on another adventure. He didn't mind towns but figured he might as well continue to places where his senses told him to go.

"Perhaps we will meet again." Joshua stated as he started to walk to another part of the forest.

"Hmph, very well. You have your path to follow and I have mine. Just remember not to startle a stranger while they're sleeping, they might just attack you." Nick said as a final goodbye to Joshua. "Till we meet again shadow user Joshua."

Nick took flight as he flew above the forest trees and took a look around. If the forest had this look when Nick first got here then he would've thought that this was just a normal forest and not an ominous forest. Nick just hoped that demon was really beaten, for the sake of the forest. This had certainly turn into a weird day, but at least that Joshua person seemed to be reliable person, at least in fight. Nick flew east to the nearest town in hopes of earning a good earned rest.

(Is this over?)

[Yes, we are finished here. I'll post it to the completed thread.]

Rewards:

Lyon: 3 SP, 3 MP and 410,000 Drachma
Herensuge: 3 SP, 3 MP and 410,000 Drachma